Variable pitch hydrokinetic drive



July 11, 1967 R. DENES ETAL 3,330,112

VARIABLE FITCH HYDROKINETIC DRIVE Filed Dec. 30, 1965 4 Sheets-Shed l Q7/5"; [6 27/ IH 25/\ n 64 i 8 @l 24"@ la Y 46 if! III: 22

,I 41 /ff/ In /09 ,i /2 Y l /A/VE/vro/Qs. /f/ HUBERT DEA/E5 PAUL P05564 @YW f@ July 11, 1967 R. DEM-:s ETAL 3,330,112

VARIABLE FITCH HYDROKINETIC DRIVE Filed Deo. 30, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTRS. ROBE/PT DEA/ES PAUL POSEG JOHN C HYTE/ July 1l, 1967 R. DENEs ETAL 3,330,112

VARIABLE FITCH HYDROKINETIC DRIVE Filed Dec. so, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 PRESSURE HUBERT DI/V55` PAUL PSEG JOHN C. HAYTER July 11, 1967 R. DENEs ETAL 3,330,112

VARIABLE FITCH HYDROKINELIIC DRIVE Filed Dec. -.'50, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 SUMP PRESSURE i sUMP PRESSURE /N VEA/7': 5. ROBERT 7E/VES PAUL POSEG JHV C. HA YTER BynfaM-)ZM United States Patent O 3,330,112 VARIABLE PITCH HYDROKINETIC DRIVE Robert Denes and Paul Posega, Rockford, and John C.

Hayter, Rockton, Ill., assignors to Borg-Wamer Corporation, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 517,631 Claims. (Cl. 60-54) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A transmission employing a variable capacity torque converter of the three-element uni-directional type with the stator element disposed in the axial flow and the impeller turbine disposed in the radial flow; the impeller blading is variable in pitch by way of a manually hydraulic control which is effective to index a control piston operating a Worm gear for movement of a plurality of splined sectors interconnected with the variable blading.

This invention relates to power transmissions and more particularly to a variable capacity torque converter for an automotive vehicle in which a prime mover is utilized to supply power for propulsion and other functions.

This invention is particularly directed to a transmission for a vehicle of the oi-the-road type such as a front loading shovel. In this type of vehicle it is desirable, during normal operations, to have a reasonable torque level available to the driveline, and a reasonable level of torque available to the power shovel operating mechanism. At times it is desirable to have a majority of torque available for the driveline, and at other times it is desirable to have a majority of torque available to the power takeol.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a power transmission comprising a torque converter whose absorption may be varied between maximum v and minimum limit absorption conditions and an intermediate absorption condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a power transmission which is eicent and effective in operation and wherein the power absorption condition of the torque converter may be readily selected'by the vehicle operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trans` mission having an input member and a pair of output members, a torque converter for transmitting torque to one of said output members and a control mechanism for varying the aborption capacity of the torque converter so that torque may be diverted to one or the other of the output members, as desired. i

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a power transmission having a torque converter including an impeller having a plurality of blades each rotatable on its own axis, and means responsive to actuation of the operator for rotating the impeller blades to vary the torque absorption of the torque converter.

These and other objects will be apparent as the description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical elevational View of a .power transmission made in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of a portion of the transmission illustrated in FIG- URE 1;

ICC

they assume for low torque absorption;

FIGURE 4 is a View similar to FIGURE 3 but showing the elements of the control system in the position they assume for high torque absorption in the converter;

FIGURE 4a is a View similar to FIGURE 3a but showing the impeller blades in the position they assume for high torque absorption;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 but illustrating the control system elements in the position they assume in normal operation; and

FIGURE 5a is a view similar to FIGURES 3a and 4a showing the impeller blades in the position they assume in normal operation.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2, the power transmission of the present invention is indicated generally by reference numeral 10 and includes a housing 12, an input member 14, an output member 16, a torque converter 18 and a power takeoff idler gear 20. Power from a suitable prime mover, such as an internal combustion engine, is supplied by a drive Wheel 22 to the input shaft 14 by means of splines 24. Also splined to the input member 14` is a spur gear 26 in mesh with the idler gear 20 of the power takeoil".

It will be understood that the idler gear 20 is in mesh with another spur gear 4which is keyed to a power takeoff shaft. The shaft 14 is also formed with splines 28 on which is meshingly received an impeller hub 30 torwhich is secured a plurality of circumferentially spaced impeller blades 32. Each of the blades 32 has end bosses 34 and 36 journalled in the impeller hub so that each blade may rotate about its own axis. The torque converter 18 further includes a stator 38 and a turbine 40 connected at 42 to the output member 16.

In normal operation the toroidal chamber of the torque converter 18 is filled with fluid which is circulated in a toroidal path through the blades of the impeller against the blades of the turbine 40 to drive the output member 16 at varying torque level and thence against the blades 1 of the stator.

According to the present invention the blades 32 are adjustable to vary the torque absorption of the torque converter 18 so that most of the power is transmitted eitherY to the output member 16 for propulsion or to the output member 20 for auxiliary uses or to afford a divided distribution of torque between the output member 16 and the power takeol. v

The variable absorption characteristics of the torque converter 18 are effected by varying the exit angle of the blades 32 from a normal 120, as illustrated in FIGURE ing 44 for journalled reception of the left end of output outer periphery thereof helical splines 56 for meshing engagement with internal helical splines of a shift ring 58. -Each of the sectors 54 form apart of a control subassembly 55. Extending outwardly from the shift ring 58 is a flange 60 to which Vis pivotally secured a plurality' of links 62, each of which is pivotally connected to an eccentric Vpin 64 Von each of the impeller blade bosses 36.Y Support blocks 70 limit movement of the plunger 52 and sectors 54 to an axial direction so that Vthe interaction of the i helical splines 56 and the shift ring 58 will produce a rotation of the shift ring 58. This, in turn, effects rotation of the blade 32, each about its own axis.

Rotation'of the blades is effected-by a hydraulic circuit which may be selectively actuated by the vehicle operator. The plunger 52 forms a part of a hydraulic cylinder 66 which is defined in part by the impeller hub 30 and in part-by the right end of the input shaft 14. The right end of the cylinder l66 is closed by a ring 68 which provides lateral support for the shift ring 58 in cooperation with support blocks 70. The left end of thek cylinder 66 is formed by a bore 72 while the right end of the bore 66 is formed by acounterbore 74 of larger diameter. A bearing rin-g 76 rides onthe'outer peripheryV of the left end of the plunger 52 and is' retained in position by Va Yshoulder 78 and a retainer ringv 80. A chamber 82is thus defined between' the impeller hub 30, the shaft 14, the plunger V52 and the ring 76. Slidably mounted on the periphery of y. the plunger 52 is a sleeve 84 having a body portion 86 j slidingly fitted into the bore 74 and a centralaxial boss 88'slidingly received in the bore V72. The portion 86 of the sleeve 84Ydeiines, in cooperation with the ring 68,-and the bore'74, a chamber 90 and forms'in cooperation with the confronting edge of the impeller hub 30, a chamber 91, see FIGURE 3. In the condition of operation illustrated in FIGURE 4, it is apparent that the bore 72 also defines a chamber 92. v

The operation of the control system of the present invention will now be described in detail with particular reference to FIGURE which illustrates the condition of Ythe system in normal oper-ation. In this condition the helical sectors 54 are approximately midway between Ytheir travel limits and are maintained in that position byrmeans illustrated in FIGURE 5. Fluid withiny the chamber 90 at the left side of the body portion 86 is exhausted to sump byV means of a passage 96. This is possible when the plun- 4 Y in FIGURE 4 the blades 32 assume the position illustrated in FIGURE 4a, i.e., an exit angle of approximately In the event that most of the power is needed for the power takeoff, the operator pushes down with his toes on pedal 104 so that the pedal assumes the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 and the exit angle of the impeller blade 32 is changed to approximately 140, as illustrated in FIGURE 3a. In this condition, the pilot valve 100 is in its normal'position, while the pilot valve 98 assumes a position in which 4the conduit 94 provides communication between the chamber 90 and sump. FluidrunderV pressure is supplied to the chamber 82 by means of the conduit 108, the chamber 92 has been exhausted to sump by means of conduit 106 and uid is drawn into chamber 91 from sump. Y

Fluid under pressure is supplied to the conduits 94, 106, and-108, from grooves 94a, 106:1, and 108a, respectively, formed in the periphery of the impeller hub 30, see FIGURE 2. These grooves are supplied :by a plurality of pressure inlets 109. K

According to the present invention the idler gear 20 is journalled by bearings 20a on a xed stub shaft 21 secured to the housing 12 by means of a pin 23. Lubrication is supplied to the Vbearings 20a from the interior ofV Ithe torque converter 18 by means of a conduit 18a and -ger of pilot valve 98 is in the normal position illustrated in lFIGURE 5. There is also provided a pilot valve 100, which, in the normal position illustrated in FIGURES,

permits the How of uid under pressure by means of a conduit 102 to the chamber 82. In this position of the secitors 54, the blades 32 are `in the normal position, i.e., of an exit angle of approximately 120. When the operator Vdesires lesstorquein the power takeo and -greater torque in the output shaft 46, he pushes down with his heel on a pedal 104 so that it Vassumes the'position illustrated in FIGURE4. The pilot valve 98 is unaffected but the pilot valve 100 is moved to an alternate position in which fluid under pressure is transmitted by means of a conduit 106 to the chamber 92 so that the plunger 52 and the ring 76, are forced Vto the left, the duid in the chamber 82 being exhausted to sump by means of a conduit 108. Since an axial bore 25 which communicates with a plurality of radial bores 27 or by means of a flat onv the upper surface of the stub shaft 21.

The transmission of the present invention exhibits irnportant advantages over transmission heretofore known. For example, the full power of the prime mover may be utilized for either the driveline Vor Ythe Ypower takeol as required. For normal operations, the `power may be substantially evenly divided by setting the control Vsystem of the invention in the medium orfnormal position.

Applicants do not intend to be limited by the above disclosure which is illustrative in nature, but intend to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.V

Y We claim:

1. A power transmission comprising an input member, -a first output member, a torque converter drivinglyV connecting said input member and said output member, said torque Vconverter having an impeller, a stator and a turbine, said impeller having aplurality ofY blades each mounted `for rotation, Va second output member driving'- ly connected to said input member, means for rotating the blades of said impellereffectively to divide fthe vtorque transmitted vto said driven members so that the torque transmitted to said first driven member varies from a normal condition in which torque is divided substantially Y first output memberand still another condition in whichY the majority of torque is diverted to said second output t' member.

2. A power transmission comprising an input member, a first output YVmember, a torque converter drivingly connecting said input member and said output member,

said torque converter comprising an impeller having aV plurality of rotatably mounted blades, a stator and a turbine, a second output member drivingly connected to said input member, means for rotating the vanes of said impeller to divide-power between said output members Y in a plurality'of ratios.

3. A power Ytransmission -in accordance with claim 2,"

other position to divide the torque so that most of the Y torque is diverted toY said first output member, and still another position in which most of the torque is diverted to said second output member. Y

4. A power transmission comprising an input member, a first output member, a torque converter drivingly connecting said input member and said output member, said torque converter comprising an impeller having a plurality of rotatably mounted blades, a stator and a turbine, a second output member drivingly connected to said input member, a control assembly for rotating the blades of said impeller to divide power between said output members in a plurality of ratios, said control assembly including a hydraulic cylinder having a plunger, a source of fluid under pressure, a shift ring, helical spline actuatable by said plunger to rotate said shift ring, a plurality of links each pivotally connecting said shift ring with one of said impeller blades, said shift ring having internal helical splines in mesh with the helical splines of said plunger so that the impeller vanes are rotated about their axes ot rotation in response to axial movement of said plunger.

5. A power transmission in accordance with claim 4, wherein said plunger is movable to one position in which torque is divided substantially equally between said iirst and second output members, to another position in which the majority of torque is transmitted to said first output member, and still another position in which the majority of torque is transmitted to said second output member.

6. A power transmission in accordance with claim 5, wherein said control assembly includes a source of pressure fluid, a hydraulic cylinder having a slidable plunger dividing said cylinder into at least two chambers one at each side of said plunger and actuatable to rotate the impeller blades to a plurality of distinct positions, a first pilot valve, a second pilot valve, said first pilot valve and said second pilot valve having a normal position in which communication is afforded between the source of iuid under pressure and both of said chambers so that said plunger assumes la position in which said blades are positioned tor substantially equal torque transmission to said first and second output members, said iirst pilot valve being selectively actuatable to a second position in which communication is aiiorded between said source of fluid .and one of said chambers While the other of said chambers is exhausted so that the impeller 'blades are rotated to a position for maximum torque transmission to said rst output member, said second pilot valve being movable to a second position to elect exhaustion of said one chamber and pressurization of said other chamber and rotation of said vanes to a position affording maximum torque transmission to said second output member.

7. In a hydrodynamic power transmission having an input member, a torque converter having an impeller provided with a plurality of blades each rotatable about its own axis, a iirst output member drivingly connected to said input member through said torque converter and a second output member directly drivingly connected to said input member, the improvement comprising means for selectively controlling the torque absorption of said torque converter to vary the torque distribution between said first and second output members, said means including a shift ring, .a plurality of links each pivotally connected to said shift ring `and to each of said blades, means for rotating said shift ring for simultaneous rotation of the impeller blades about their own axes to vary the torque absorption of said torque converter between maximum and minimum conditions and to an .intermediate condition, said last-named means including a hydraulic cylinder having a slidable plunger movable -axially in response to manual actuation to elect rotation of the impeller vanes.

8. In a hydrodynamic power transmission having an input member, a torque converter having an impeller provided with a plurality of blades each rotatable about its own axis, a first output member drivingly connected to said input member through said torque converter and a second output member directly drivingly connected to said input member, the improvement comprising means for selectively controlling the torque absorption of said torque converter to vary the torque distribution between said iirst and second output members, said means including a shift ring, a plurality of links each pivotally connected to said shift ring and to each of said vanes, means for rotating said shift ring for simultaneous rotation of the impeller blades about their own axes to vary the torque absorption of said torque converter between maximum and minimum conditions and to an intermediate condition, said control means including a hydraulic circuit having a source of iiuid under pressure, a first pilot valve, a second pilot valve, a hydraulic cylinder having a plunger axially slidable to etlect rotation of said shift ring, said pilot valves each having a plunger biased to a normal position in which the fluid pressure on each side of said plunger is equal and in which said blades assume -a position for substantially equal distribution of torque between said tirst output member and said second output member, said first pilot valve being selectively movable by said pedal -to la second position in which fiuid communication is afforded to said hydraulic cylinder at one side of said plunger for movement of said plunger in one direction and rotation of said blades to a position for maximum torque transmission to said rst output member, said second pilot valve being movable from said normal position to an alternate position to aord fluid cornmunication between said source and the other side of said plunger so that said blades are rotated to a position for transmission of maximum torque to said second output member.

9. A power transmission comprising an input member, a iirst output member, a torque converter drivingly connecting said input member and said output member, said torque converter comprising an impeller having a plurality of rotatably mounted blades, a stator and a turbine, a second output member drivingly connected to said input member, a control assembly for rotating the blades of said impeller to divide power between said output members in a plurality of ratios, said control :assembly including a hydraulic cylinder having a portion of greater diameter, a sleeve slidably received in said cylinder, said sleeve having .a body portion slidably received in the portion of said cylinder of greater diameter and having a central axial boss slidably received in said cylinder, said sleeve having a central opening, an axially movable plunger slidably received in said central opening, means including a helical spline for effecting rotation of said blades in response to axial movement of said plunger, a pedal selectively actu-atable to three distinct positions, a rst pilot valve, a source of iiuid under pressure, said tirst pilot valve being actuatable by said pedal from a iirst position in which the impeller blades are in normal position to a second position in which fiuid communication is alorded between said iiuid pressure source and one side of said plunger to effect movement of said plunger in one direction to afford maximum torque absorption by said converter, a second pilot valve manually actuatable by said pedal from a normal position in which the iiuid pressure on each side of said plunger is balanced to a second position in which iiuid pressure on the other side of said plunger is increased and said Iblades are rotated to a position for a minimum torque absorption by said converter.

10. A transmission system, comprising: a hydrokinetic device having a toroidal chamber defined about a first yaxis and having at least one element with iiuid directing blades each individually pivotal about an axis for said blade; hydraulic actuating means disposed closely about said first .axis land having at least one portion movable for being hydraulically biased to discrete longitudinal steps along said first axis; linkage interconnecting said actuating means portion with said blades for translating each longitudinal step of said portion into a predetermined pivotal position for said blades; and manual means for regulating the hydraulic bias of said actuating means to prmote'selective positioning of said blades, said hy'- References Cited draulic actuating means being substantially nested withink UNITED STATES PATENTS the toroidal core space of said toroidal'chamber, and

said linkage means particularly comprises a unitary ring 218931266 7/1959 Kelley 60-54 X drivingly connected to said actuating means portion and 5 2,898,740 8/ 1959 Y Kelley 60-'54 carrying a plurality of cranks each having one end con- 3,021,676 2/1962 Tuck et a1, 60;.54

nected to a portion of said Iblade olf-set' from the Iblade axis `and another portion connected to one of a plurality EDGAR W, GEOGHEGAN, Primary Examiner. of spacedcircumferential positions on said ring. 

1. A POWER TRANSMISSION COMPRISING AN INPUT MEMBER, A FIRST OUTPUT MEMBER, A TORQUE CONVERTER DRIVINGLY CONNECTING SAID INPUT MEMBER AND SAID OUTPUT MEMBER, SAID TORQUE CONVERTER HAVING AN IMPELLER, A STATOR AND A TURBINE, SAID IMPELLER HAVING A PLURALITY OF BLADES EACH MOUNTED FOR ROTATION, A SECOND OUTPUT MEMBER DRIVINGLY CONNECTED TO SAID INPUT MEMBER, MEANS FOR ROTATING THE BLADES OF SAID IMPELLER EFFECTIVELY TO DIVIDE THE TORQUE TRANSMITTED TO SAID DRIVEN MEMBERS SO THAT THE TORQUE TRANSMITTED TO SAID FIRST DRIVEN MEMBER VARIES FROM A NORMAL CONDITION IN WHICH TORQUE IN DIVIDED SUBSTANTIALLY EQUALLY BETWEEN SAID OUTPUT MEMBERS TO ANOTHER CONDITION IN WHICH THE MAJORITY OF TORQUE IS DIVERTED TO SAID FIRST OUTPUT MEMBER AND STILL ANOTHER CONDITION IN WHICH THE MAJORITY OF TORQUE IS DIVERTED TO SAID SECOND OUTPUT MEMBER. 